An inner-tube, a bagel, a donut, a lifesaver, a holiday wreath, a tire-swing, a cycle of abuse, a halo of hatred: circles, both real and figurative, whirl out of control in this darkly comic one-man show. And at the center of them all sits an enigmatic squirrel. Orbiting that squirrel is Chester, a self-described rodentophobe who spins the outlandish, funny, and bruising tale of growing up with a father who developed a rabid hatred for squirrels -- a hatred that eventually infected every aspect of his and his son's life. Pursued by memories of his intolerant father and the legacy of bigotry, Chester is pulled into the black hole at the center of his own life where he encounters the mistakes, the fears, the guilt, and the humanity that make him whole again.

Pricing Information

Min. Performance Fee*$80

Standard Edition$9.99

Stage Manager Edition$18.99

*The per performance fee begins at $80. Your per performance fee will be provided during the ordering process.

Play Details

An inner-tube, a bagel, a donut, a lifesaver, a holiday wreath, a tire-swing, a cycle of abuse, a halo of hatred: circles, both real and figurative, whirl out of control in this darkly comic one-man show. And at the center of them all sits an enigmatic squirrel. Orbiting that squirrel is Chester, a self-described rodentophobe who spins the outlandish, funny, and bruising tale of growing up with a father who developed a rabid hatred for squirrels -- a hatred that eventually infected every aspect of his and his son's life. Pursued by memories of his intolerant father and the legacy of bigotry, Chester is pulled into the black hole at the center of his own life where he encounters the mistakes, the fears, the guilt, and the humanity that make him whole again.

Drama/Comedy

75 - 90 minutes

1 m

Content Notes: Adult language

Set: A chair and an inner-tube

Standard Edition ISBN: 978-1-62384-191-1

Published Reviews

"Painful memories, tempered by bittersweet rushes of levity and a hint of redemptive power, fill the 90 exhilarating minutes of John Walch's new play Circumference of a Squirrel."

Naomi Siegel, The New York Times

"Circumference of a Squirrel is not only a genuine play, it's one with substance... Every line rings true, every inflection has meaning."

Lawson Taitte, Dallas Morning News

"If Circumference of a Squirrel sounds a bit wacky -- a story about an inner tube, a bagel, a donut, a lifesaver, and a squirrel -- that's probably because it is. This one-man show with bite ... employs different voices for each character and pulls off the conceit with flair... John Walch's somewhat absurd play is captivating -- and fun."

Gretchen C. Van Benthuysen, Back Stage

"...first engages the audience's interest, then its sympathy, and then its solid admiration for a job superbly done... Walch includes an astonishing amount of circular imagery in his script. There are references to doughnuts, life savers, bagels, silver dollars, wedding bands, and that aforementioned inner tube. But the story does not go round and round; rather it centers on an important message of how two and plenty more wrongs don't nearly make a right."

Peter Filichia, The Star-Ledger (New Jersey)

"Texas-bred playwright John Walch has seen the whole meaning of Life Itself in The Circumference of a Squirrel... Squirrel is as small and speedy as its namesake..."

Tom Chesek, Asbury Park Press

"Walch's intricate script...proceed[s] like an intimate storytelling session...alternately entertaining and heartbreaking... Circumference of a Squirrel may at times seem like nothing more than a getting-to-know-you chat, but you'll leave feeling as if you've just caught up with an old friend."

Tricia Olszewski, Washington Post

"Poignant and telling at moments, the monologues are nonetheless nothing short of laugh-out-loud funny. From the origins of Rodentaphobia -- the fear of squirrels -- to Chester's final revelation about himself after his father's death, the introspective play keeps the audience entertained, light-hearted and giggly."

Lisa Gauthier, NUVO (Indianapolis)

"Walch graces Circumference with essential humanity, incisive humor, and a trail of spherical themes. He writes with assurance and quiet beauty... Circumference of a Squirrel marks the official anointment of author Walch as the next big thing from Austin."

Michael Barnes, Austin American-Statesman

"Fresh and absorbing... [Walch] gives us Sisyphus in a squirrel...and as we walk with Chester on his particular journey, we find it has not only the power to entrance us but the power to move us as well."

Robert Faires, The Austin Chronicle

"Warm, edgy and ultimately thought-provoking...an artful blend of the comic and cosmic."